Retractable landing gear



Oct. 17, 1933. G. MIDBQE 1,9311137 RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR Filed June28, 1952 3 sheets-sheet 1l INVENTOR @ABR/EL M/BOE.

JWM #JMJZWM ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1933. G. MDBOE 1,931,137

` RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR Filed June 28, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2ATTORNEYS Oct. 17, 1933. G. MIDBOE RETBACTABLE LANDING GEAR 3Sheets-Sheeil 5 Filed June 28, 1932 INVENTOR GABRIEL MIDBOE.

ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 17, 1933 RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR GabrielMidboe, Brooklyn, N. Y., assigner to General Aviation Corporation,Dundalk, Md., la corporation of Delaware Application June 28, 1932.

22 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a landing gear designedprimarily as a beach gear for a flying boat, but which can also be usedas a landing gear for amphibian and land planes.

For this purpose there is attached to each wing, on each side of thehull, a strut and landing wheel adapted to be drawn up and housed withinor against the body of the wing so that it offers slight or noresistance to llight when not in use. For holding the strut forming thelanding gear and the wheel on the free end thereof, there is provided ineach wing, means for supporting the landing gear in a retractedposition. There is also provided in the hull of the boat means forbringing the landing gear to an operative position and holding it inthat position as long as desired during landing or taking off.

It is particularly the object of this invention to provide means forwithdrawing the landing apparatus from its seat in the wing, and holdingit in body-engaging position and so holding it that it has no lateralmovement.

These and other advantages will appear from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side`elevation of one part of the hull and one wing, incross section.

Figure 2 is a section through one side and the bottom of the hull,showing the mechanism for bringing the landing gear to a substantiallyverticalposition and holding it in this position.

Figure 3 is a cross section through part of the wing, showing the manneryin which the landing gear is retracted and held in retracted position.

Figure 4 is a transverse section throughv one side of the hull and alongitudinal section through the operating mechanism for bringing theoperating gear into a substantially vertical position.

Figure 5 is a view showing the lefthand end of the operating mechanismshown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a view showing the righthand end of the operating drumhoused in the wall of the hull.

Figure\7 is a top plan view of the gear support and a cross sectionthrough the strut supported by the support. y

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Figure 1.

The present landing gear is shown used in connection with a ying boat,which has a hull having sides 1 and a bottom 2. Extending from each sideof the hull is a wing 3. To the front spar 4 of each Wing, adjacent theside of the boat hull, is a U-shaped bracket 6 attached to the spar bymeans of bolts 7.

Serial No. 619,720-

Transverse of the wings and suitably attached to the front spar 4 andthe rear spar are ribs 5. On the lower end of each U-shaped bracket is aloop 8 adapted to support pivotally the upper end of a semi-circularstrut 9 by means of ears 10, 60 one at each end of the loop. For holdingtheseA ears'in engagement with the loop a bolt 11 is provided. The frontpart of the semi-circular strut is indicated by the numeral l2, whilethe flat rear part is indicated by the numeral 13.

The lower end of each strut has on each side, at the rear, a flat,triangular plate 14 for supporting 'therebetween a Wheel 15 on an axle16 extending through the plates 14. In the front part, near the lowerend of each strut, is a socket with a cone-shaped pin 17 therein adaptedto receive a tube 18 suitably attached to a support 19 pivoted to oneside of the hull at different points. The rear pivot of the support isindicated by the numeral 20 while the front pivot is indicated by 75 thenumeral 21. The front pivot is in the form of a short shaft 21a suitablysupported by the hull, and a bracket 2lb extending inwardly from thehull. l

In the side of the boat hull there is a casing or cavity 22, which formsa seat for the support 19 whenslnot in use. This casing or cavity soseats the support that when the plane is in night no resistanceisoffered by the support to the air. The rear wall of the casing isindicated by the B5 numeral 23 and is suitably attached to the wall ofthe hull by any desired means.

Supported by the hull immediately above the casing 22 is a casing orhousing 24, which is cylindrical in shape and has on one end a flange 25into which is tted a sleeve 26. This sleeve 26 has on its outer end aflange 27; Through the flanges 25 and 27, the upper part of the vwall 23and the side 1 of the hull extend rivets 28 for holding these partsassembled, in the 95 manner shown in Figure 4.

Extending downwardly from the housing v24 is an extension 29 attachedtov the hull of the boat by means of rivets 30. This extension has apassageway 31 leading from the Acasing 22 into 100 the housing 24,through which a cable 45, later to be described, passes. On the otherend of the housing 24 from the flange 25 is a cap 32. This cap is heldon this end of the housing, by means of anges 33 and bolts 34 passingthrough 105 the anges.

Extending from the end of the cap 35, which has threaded on the endthereof a cap 36, containing a packing 36a. Extending through the cap 36and the sleeve 35 into the 110 is a sleeve housing 24 is a shaft 37,which has on one end a crank 38 for rotating the shaft. 0n the other endof this shaft is a hollow drum 39, which has on its periphery a spiralgroove 40. This groove is adapted to seat a cable, and also adapted toengage a similar groove on the inside of the sleeve 26 so that as thisdrum rotates it will move into or out of the housing. By means of thisconnection a watertight fit is provided so that water may not passbetween these parts into the interior of the hull. j

In the'inner end of the housing and integral therewith is a head 41,which has attached thereto by means of a bolt 43 a flange 42. This angeis formed integral with the shaft 37 so that the flange and the shaftmay be removed from the head byremoving the bolts 43. When the shaftrotates the hollow drum 39 is caused to rotate and move longitudinallyinto or out of the housing by means of the spiral groove 40.

Near the center of the shaft, at a point midway between the endsthereof, is a second flange 44, to which one end of a cable 45 isattached. The other end of this cable is attached to some suitable partof the support 19 for drawing it into the casing 22 when not in use.This cable 45 extends through the passageway 31 and is adapted to bewound around the shaft 37 for properly housing the support. C

Extending from one end of shaft 21a is an arm 46, which has attachedthereto one end of a rubber cable or strap 47, the other end of whichstrap is anchored at a point 48 to the side of the hull. 'I'his cable isguided by means of guides 49. v

Within the drum 39 is one end of a cable 50 attached to the shaft 37 byan attaching means 51. This cable extends through a suitable opening inthe outer end of the drum and passes over a pulley 52 suitably attachedto some part of the hull. The other end of this cable is attached at thepoint 53 to the lower end of the strut 9. This cable and drum are usedfor bringing the strut to a vertical position, as shown in Figure 1. Theouter end of the drum is closed by means of a disc 54, suitably attachedto flanges on the drum provided for that purpose.

This disc extends beyond the drum on all I' parts of its peripheryforming a flange 55 for the purpose of guiding the cable into the spiralgroove on the drum at the beginning of the rotation of the drum.

Suitably attached to'the lower end of the strut opposite the point 53 isa cable 56. This cable extends upwardly from the strut and over a pulley57 supDOlted by means-of a swinging frame 58 supported pivotally on abracket ,59 attached tov some suitable part of the wing of the plane.After the cable passes over the pulley 57 it is guided by means of aguide tube 60 to another pulley 61 supported suitably by some part ofthe hull frame. 'I'his cable extends downwardly from the pulley 6l andmay be gripped by the hand of an individual for hoisting or elevatingthe landing gear so that it will be properly seated in a cavity 66provided for that purpo in the wing.

When the landing gear is in aretr'acted position, it is held in thisposition by means of a hook 62 located on a shaft 63, supported suitablyin some part of the wing and the hull. On one end o f this shaft is anoperating handle 64, while on the other end is the hook 62 adapted toengage a catch 65 attached t0 #Ome llil'fble part of the strutstructure.

In order to hold the strut in operativepos-i-v tion, as shown in Figure1, there is provided a` loop 67 to engage the crank 38 to prevent thereverse rotation of the drum. When the landing gearis in a housedposition and supported by means of the hook 62, and it is desired tolower the gear, the hook is removed from the catch 65 by means of thehandle 64. The gear then, including the strut 9, is free to movedownwardly, but the drag of the water,- due to the plane passing throughit, makes it necessary to provide some means for bringing the strut to alanding position. This vis done through the cable 56 attached at one endto the point 53 at l the lower end of the strut, and'at its other end tothe drum 39. 'f

The drum at this time is` seated within the housing 24. The cable 45 iswound around the shaft 37. As the drum is rotated through the crank 38,the cable 50 is caused to be wound in the spiral groove. At the sametime the drum is forced out of the housing and the cable 45 is unwoundfrom the shaft. This operation continues until the cable 50 issuillciently wound around the drum 39 so that the strut assumes theposition shown in Figure 1, With the cable 45,

sufficiently unwound to permit .the support 19 to assume a substantiallyhorizontal position, as shown in Figures 1 and 4. In this position thesupport is out of its casing and the tube 18 projects into the socket,with the pin 17 projecting into the tube.

Iny order to securely hold the strut in the position shown in Figure 1,it isnecessary that the loop 67 be thrown over the crank 38 to preventthe back rotation of the drum. When it is desired to retract the landinggear the loop 67 is removed from the crank and the cable 56 is grippedby the hand and pulled for the purpose of raising the landing gear. Whenthe landing gear is fully retracted the hook 62 engages the catch 65 forsupporting the landing gear.

It is desired to comprehend within this invention such modifications asmay be embraced within the claims and the scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a landing gear, in combination with an airplanehaving-a wing, astrut pivoted at one end to the wing, the front of said strut beingstreamlined and the back face fiat, and means for swinging the strut upagainst the wing with the flat side engaging 'the under side of thewing.

2. In an airplane, a fuselage, a wing having a wheel-receiving socket,and a strut pivoted at one end to the wing and having at its other end awheel adapted to fit in the socket, said 'strut having a stream linedfront edge and a flat back face to engage the wing when the wheel is inthe socket.

3. In a landing gear, in combination with an airplane having a hull, astrut pivoted one end to swing along one side of the hull, and meanspivoted on the hull to support the strut when in a substantiallyvertical position, said means consisting of a supporthaving at its freeend a tube adapted to t in a socket in the strut, and a pin on thestrutin the socket to fit in the tube.

4. In a landing gear, in combination with an air plane having a hull anda wing extending from one side, a strut pivoted at one end to the wingfor swinging along one side of the hull, means pivoted on the hull tosupport the strut in a substantially vertical position, and a commonmeans for moving the strut and said means about their pivots.

5. In a landing gear, in combination with an airplane having a hull anda `wing extending therefrom, a strut pivoted at one end to the wing forswinging `along the hull, a support pivoted to the hull for engaging thestrutto support it in a substantially vertical position, and a commonmeans to move the strut and the support on their pivots, said meansincluding a shaft with a drum thereoma housing for the drum and means onrotation of the shaft and drum to cause the drum to move into or out ofthe housing.

6. In a landing gear, in combination with an airplane having a hull anda wing, said hull having a housing, a strut pivoted at one end to thewing, means to hold the strut against the under side of the wing, andmeans to move the strut to a substantially vertical position, said meansincluding a drum mounted in the housing, a cable attached to the drumand to the strut, means to l rotate the dnmi and cooperating means onthe housingand the drum,whereby as the drum rotates it will be moved outof the housing or drawn into the housing and the cable wound about thedrum or let oil?.

'1. In a landing gear, in combination with an airplane,'a landing struttherefor, means to bring the strut, into landing position, a pivotedsupport for the strut in landing position, and means connected to thestrut and the support operable by rotation in one direction to raise thesupport and operable by rotation in another direction to bring the strutto landing position and release the support so it can move tostrut-supporting position.

8. In a landing gear, in combination with an airplane, a landing struttherefor, means to bring the strut into landing position, a pivotedsupport for the strut in landing position, means connected to the strutand the support operable by rotation in one direction to raise thesupport and operable by rotation in another direction to bring the strutto landing position and release the support so it -can move tostrut-supporting position, and

means when the support is released to bring it to strut-supportingposition.

9. In a landing gear, in combination with an airplane, a landing struttherefor, means to bring the strut into landing position, a pivotedsupport for supporting the strut when in landing position, meansconnected to the strut and the support operable by rotation in onedirection to raise the support to a vertical position and operable byrotation in another direction to bring the strut to landing position andrelease the support, means to automatically bring the released supportto strut-supporting position, and means to bring the strut out oflanding position whenA it is released.

10., In a landing gear for airplanes, a hull, a landing strut pivotallysupported with relation to the hull, a support for the strut pivoted tothe hull, means tending to hold the support in strutsupporting position,and a rotatable member in the hull adapted at one operation to move thesupport out of strut-supporting positionand at another operation torelease the support and bring the strut into landing position againstthe support.

1l. In a landing gear, a movable strut member, means to move the strutinto operative position for landing purposes, a support for said strutwhen in operative position, and means tending to hold the support instrut-supporting position, said first-named means being connected to thesupport and adapted to move the support out of strutsupporting position.

12. In a landing gear, a pivoted strut, a'pivoted support for the strut,and means operatively connected to the strut and the support for `movingthemsaid means consisting of a drum, a shaft on the drum, means forrotating the shaft and the drum, and a support for the shaft and drum soengaging the drum that the rotation of the drum Will cause the drum tomove longitudinally.

13. In a landing gear, an operating mechanism therefor comprising, incombination with a hull having therein a hole, a cylindrical housinghaving on one end a flange fitting against the inside of the hull aroundthe hole, a sleeve fitting in the housing and having a flange engagingthe outside of the hull, means to fasten the flanges together and to thehull, a drum having .on its'periphery a spiral groove and at one end aflange, and means in the sleeve engaging the groove so that when thedrum.l'is",frotated it will move longitudinally into andout of thehousing.

14. In a landing gear, an operating mechanism therefor comprising, incombination with a hull having a hole therein, a cylindrical housingattached at one end to the hull within the hole, the end of the housingat the hull being open, a drum having a spiral groove around itsperiphery in the open end of the housing, means in the housingengaging'the drum in the groove so that when the drum rotates it willmove into and out of the housing, a shaft extending through the otherend of the housing and supported thereby, means for attaching one end ofthe shaft to the drum, and means for rotating the shaft.

15. In a. landing gear, an operating mechanism therefor comprising, incombination with a hull having a hole therein, a cylindrical housingattached at one end to the hull within the hole, the end of the housingat the hull being open, a drum having a spiral groove around itsperiphery in the open end of the housing, means in the housing engagingthe drum in thegroove so that when the drum rotates it will move intoand Yout of the housing, a shaft extending through the other end of thehousing and supported thereby, means for attaching one end of the shaftto the drum, means for rotating the shaft, and a pair of cables attachedto the shaft, one cable extending through the outer end of the drum.

16. In a landing gear, an operative mechanism therefor comprising, incombination with a hull having a recess therein, a Water-tight housingattached to the inside of the hull around the recess, and a drum in thehousing.

17. In a landinggear, an operative mechanism therefor comprising, incombination with a hull having a hole therein, a Water-tight housingattached to the inside of the hull around the hole, a drum in thehousing, and co-operating means on the drum and housing whereby when thedrum rotates it will move longitudinally.

18. In a landing gear, in combination with an airplane having a wing, astrut pivoted at one end to the Wing, the fro-nt side of the strut beingarcuate and the back side fiat, means to swing the strut up against theWing with the flat side engaging the under side of the. Wing, and meansto lock the strut against the Wing, said means including a catch memberon the strut and a swinging hook to engage the catch` member.

19. In a landing gear, in combination with an airplane having a hull anda wing extending therefrom, a strut pivotedA at one end to the Wing andhaving on its other end a wheel, said strut having itsfront side arcuateand gradually increasing in size from the pivot end to the Wheel and itsback side iiat, means to swing' the strut up against the wing with thefiat side engaging the underside of the wing, and means to lock thestrut against theD wing, said means consisting of a latch member on thestrut and a shaft supported by the hull, said shaft having on one end ahook to engage the latch member and on the other end a handle foroperating the hook.

2l). In combination in an airplane of a body, a

` wing, a Wheel strut having a wheel on vone end pivoted to the wingadapted tb swing parallel with the side of the body, and a locking yokepivoted on the side of the body adapted to engage with the strut when inVertical landing position.

21. In combination in an airplane of a body,l a wing, a Wheel struthaving a wheel on one end pivoted to the wing adapted to swing parallelwith the side of the body, a locking yoke pivoted c on the side of thebody adapted to engage with the strut when in vertical landing position,and

means inside of said body connected to said yoke and to the forward endof said strut, whereby as said strut is moved into vertical position bysaid means the yoke is released for engaging the strut and when the ypkeis withdrawn from the strut the means for moving the strut into verticalposition is slacked off.

22. In combination in an airplane of a body, a wing, a wheel struthaving a wheel on one end pivoted to the wing adapted to swing parallelwith the side of the body, a locking yoke pivoted on the side of thebody adapted to engage with the strut when in vertical landing position,means inside of said body connected to said yoke and to the forward endof said strut, whereby as said strut is moved into vertical position bysaid means the yoke is released for engaging the strut and when the yokeis withdrawn from the strut the means for moving the strut into verticalposition is slacked off, and means for moving the strut into ahorizontal position against the wing.

GABRIEL MIDBOE.

